The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-15
nESPEBAD0'S THREAT.
KING OF THE ERIE RE-
CEIVES AN ALARMING LETTER.

He is Warned that Unless He Gives
the Writer $50 He and His Railroad
WI! Suffer Charles j. Campbell, of
Brooklyn, Arrested for Sending the
Message.
From the New York Times.
Amons the letters which came to Presi-
dent King, of the New York, Lake Erie
and Western Railway on Monday afternoon
last was this.
Nov. ., 1887
d NJ aam7v King, President Of the Erie Rail'cay
a DGAg Sra.--This is a matter of vital inlpor
4;tnre Ia you and the concern you represent Do
"a moi fail IN read and weigh each and every word
uifh Zoe ilmast care and give the matter care
IN consideration, | mean business, and shall
speak plainly and 10 the point want So,
casa Necessity and desperation drive me e, to
rent ave. to the present moment, an honest
man Sickness, trouble and want have driven
me to his Day by day have begged for work.
ANYTHING would have preferred to this mean,
low tlespcabe method, but ragged, homeless,
,rapt IN every feature. who will take me in this
Il Wyeched condition into their employ:
Thiavey robbery, is now alone left me, unless
~ lron comply with my modest request By COM
! lyjng with my request. you can save me a life
IF ffTpst1ial deviitry, and save your corporation
r1ant dollars. many lives, and much anxiety
and worry For, unless my request is complied
,ri ~ tie very letter, disaster such as never
secured on any road, shall take place on the
Ikuow every mile of the road from here to
III q,iffalo have planned everything carefully,
ID AVA my future shall be given to wreckng trains
"a AND Numbering. Succeed | must. Fear and
I 5stecio ion are impossible You are dealing with
man OF education and rare intelligence.
here resort TO disguise.
Now This is how / calculate. Give me $50
81 cash With it can purchase clothing, get
III tlare to board, and have enough left to adYer-
sc for work, which can get if | look decent,
As ! am good workman, and could make good
wages before lost all, and can do so again
ii For Gods sake give me the means, and l can
earn an honest living, and in three months pay
YOU back all have borrowed, with interest.
"a not drink nor never did: business trouble
and long illness and d pride have brought
me to this Have you family? Do you love
Rem? Then, implore you save me, save
Yourself For if my request is not granted,
Sav Won drove me to crime, murder and plumber
dor gOu can yet save me.
Defy me and ruin-frst to your road, second
m Yourself for once drive me to crime and your
hfe will not be worth n half penny. You in
]pelitv will be the murderer of hundreds, for
YOU have It in your power to check all.
Now to business
This is how you may send the money; In a
e sealed plain envelope, all in greenbacks, $50 in
large bills, by district messenger boy--marked
In + T. plainly on the sealed envelope. Send
Nov s. to Nesey corner of Broadway, New York
3tv and have him remain there until boy
*
another plain envelope marked Y y: q. Then
Il vour bog shall give my boy mis- envelope. The
"a slip Of paper You may hold as receipt which
81 shall repay. Don't follow my boy. either
N Yourself or by proxy. Ii will be useless. The
matter is too well planned. Get me you cannot,
a and to arrest the boy, detain or follow him, and
q The Jig win be up. You would only bring
E speedy vengeance on yourself and cause inno-
~ cent persons to suffer for me, the villain and
III principal Remember, to employ detectives
ID would be useless.
RE. I
swear you shall not regret it. for shall be
IA honest and manly with you Tell your boy to
E wait until my boy comes, give him the money
or envelope, ask no questiOns-time is precious
III and t9lSe receipt from my boy.
ID Expecting You to comply with my petition on
Ell tuesday, Nov 8, at o'clock sharp, | am dear
n hunhly yours, 4 DESPERATE Devil.
81 or only such drives me, once happy and loved,
I'D 10 this,
F S-J am alone in this plot and, if 1 get
T3mouey under no condition will bother you.
u No one else but you and know of this trans
acron.
President King simply turned the letter
lover to his private secretary, Mr.. Nicholson,
ard that gentleman turned it over to the
Epolice. It was laid before Capt Bergholz,
lot the Church street station, and Capt
EBergholz assigned Detective Flynn to work
ZfIp the case and capture "A Desperate
EDeyil' just as he was about to lay hands on the
Hprize. Flynn dressed boy up in cheap irni-
alton of District Messenger boys uni
orm, and on Tuesday evening stationed
bin at the corner of Nesey street and
EBroadway. The bogus messenger held
n his hand plain sealed envelope
FddreSsed X. Y. H., and containing
five slips of crisp brown wrap
Xpng paper, cut in the size of bank notes.
At Z O'Clock precisely a well-dressed boy,
Mabout "A years old, came along and, without
h word handed the messenger an envelope
tddressed X. Y. 2. and took the correspond
ing envelope the messenger had. Not
Hword was spoken by the two boys. The
Desperate Devilsn emissarv went rapidly
across Broadway and then to John street,
Ewith Detective Flynn close upon his heels.
He went so fast that the detective feared he
#lnght get out of sight, and in John street,
6near Nassau, he collared him.
Il The boy gave a clear account OF himself,
and said be had been hired by q man TO do
he ezra d, and that he had been paid a
#uarter for it. He was to hide the envel-
Hope, he said, under an Italian fruit stand at
he corner of William and John streets, and
III hen meet the man later in Pearl street, and
eceive larger sum for his services. The
10y was perfectly willing TO assist the de-
u ective, and a moment alter, before he had
8eposited tn money at the place designated,
&lolnted out man to the officer as the one
8who had employed him. Flynn arrested
#nm, and locked him up. He give his name
rs Charles ]. Campbell, and said he lived at
136 Dean street, Brooklyn, and was "a years
r. age.
Campbell was arraigned before Judge
kilbreth in the Tombs Police Court, yes
srday morning, and pleaded not guilty.
ne Judge postponed examination until af-
ernoon, as the prisoner said he wished to
send for his employer, Felix F. Daus, of 81
Beekman street. In the afternoon Mr.
jaus was present, as was also Mr. Nichol-
on, representing President King, of the
Erie road. When the prisoner was called
o tho bar he appeared perfectly cool and
et-possessed. He is a little below medium
lze, with light brown hair and
noustache, ard wears ciose-cut
beard. He seemed remarkably intelligent,
nd his language indicated refinement. He
ad no lawyer, and asked the court for time
o get one, He had friends in the city, he
Pad, with whom he wished to communi-
ate, that they might employ consel and
ONE to his assistance. He asked that the
caring be postponed until Tuesday but the
curt liked Saturday, and placed the bail at
soV0, which was not furnished, and Camp
veil was locked up. The court also directed
nat he be afforded all facilities for COM
nunicating with his friends. Mr.. Daus, for
Fhom Campbell works, said:
All know about him is that he came to
Well Recommended a week ppft1 and WA